It is now widely accepted that Putin would have delayed or canceled the invasion if Secretary of State Antony Blinken had assured him that Ukraine would not be permitted to join NATO. That promise was not made.
Instead, Biden publicly warned Putin two weeks before the Russians attacked, that America would destroy the newly constructed pipeline, Nord Stream 2, that was prepared to funnel Russian gas to Germany.
Putin had already slowed down and then cut off the earlier pipeline, Nord Stream 1, that began delivering gas to Germany a decade earlier.
Sweden Halts Nord Stream Investigation, Hands Off To Germany, As Hersh Fills In More Blanks
https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/ ... ore-blanks